re:THINK

The official blog of NAU-Extended Campuses

7 Ways To Impress In Online Class Discussions

Online class discussions are a great way for you to
deepen your understanding of the classroom material, present your views on the
subject to your professor and interact with your fellow classmates.

It’s also an opportunity where the discussion can get off course
or, worse, derail and crash.

Avoid a disaster like this by choosing to communicate more
effectively. We recommend these seven online etiquette tips so that your online
class discussion stays on track and brings value to your online degree.

Participate

Don’t hide in the cyberspace background. Speak up. This is
the time to show your professor that you know your stuff. Contributing to the
conversation helps you solidify your grasp on the subject and may even spark
ideas for future class assignments.

Keep Your Comments
Focused

Be brief when possible. Contributing too much to the
conversation can be just as damaging to the discussion as not contributing
enough. If it’s not related or relevant to the presented topic, don’t include
it.

Erase The Emoticons

Acknowledge that this online class discussion is a formal
setting. Would you use abbreviations and smiley faces in a cover letter or a
term paper?

Read It All

No one wants to read the same thought twice. Read through
everyone’s contribution to make sure that what you want to write hasn’t already
been stated. If it has, think of ways you can expand upon the expressed
thought.

Cite Your Sources

If your response includes the intellectual property of others—that
includes books, newspapers, textbooks, journals and websites—then give proper
attribution. Refer to your style guide on how to cite your sources correctly.

Be Respectful

No name-calling, please. If you disagree with a classmate’s
opinion or interpretation of the topic, express your thoughts calmly and
maturely. That includes turning off the caps lock and eliminating the sarcasm
from your comments.

Help Out

If your classmates state that they don’t understand class material during the online class discussion, give them a helping hand. Explain the
material in a different way or suggest other text sources or websites for them
to help in their understanding.